How do instants work vs sacrificing?
Asked by Aethaleon 9 years ago
I have an artifact on the field that can be sacrificed to add one mana to my mana pool. I choose to sacrifice it. Can my opponent play an instant in response to the sacrifice and destroy it?
Also, if my opponent plays an instant to destroy the artifact, can I sacrifice it in response before it's destroyed?
Epochalyptik says... Accepted answer #2
@TheRedDude: Your answer is partially incorrect. The spell only fizzles in the second case. It can't even be cast in the first.
First, true mana abilities (that is, abilities that don't have targets, aren't loyalty abilities, and add mana to a player's mana pool when they resolve) don't use the stack, and players can't respond to them.
In this case, your opponent cannot cast a spell after you activate the ability because he or she doesn't have priority. Priority isn't automatically passed because mana abilities don't use the stack. By the time your opponent gets priority later, the artifact is long gone and cannot be the target of a removal spell. Your opponent cannot even cast the spell.
If your opponent casts his or her spell first, you can activate the mana ability in response. If you do, the artifact will leave the battlefield, and the spell will fizzle when it tries to resolve.
TheRedDude says... #1
If you sacrifice something as a cost, the cost will be paid regardless of instants. the artifact will be put into the graveyard before the instant resolves, therefore adding the mana regardless of the instant. However, if you activate the ability whilst the instant is on the stack, the ability and its cost will resolve first. in both instances, the instant has no target and fizzles
October 19, 2014 9:48 a.m.